Clogherhead RNLI rescues fisherman and boat off Louth coast

The volunteer crew from Clogherhead RNLI came to the aid of a fisherman after a boat got into difficulty south of the Drogheda Bar in the early hours of last Monday morning. Drogheda Coast Guard was also involved.

The Dublin Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre requested the assistance at 2.27am following a report that a fishing vessel had sustained engine malfunction south of the Drogheda Bar off the coast of County Meath.

The all-weather Shannon class lifeboat was launched under Coxswain Tomas Whelehan with crew Derek Shevlin, Carol Holcroft, Barbara Kirk and Brian Sharkey onboard.

They immediately made their way to the scene arriving at 3.09am. The Drogheda Coast Guard inshore RIB crew were also on scene. Weather conditions at the time were calm.

On arrival, the lifeboat crew assessed the situation and noted that due to the engine failure, the fisherman could not make any safe onward progress. A decision was made to attach a towline to the vessel and return the fisherman to the nearest safe port at Port Oriel where everyone arrived at 4.35am.

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The crew then returned the Michael O'Brien to Clogherhead RNLI lifeboat station at 5.35am with the assistance of shore crew members Brian Boylan, Shanie McEvoy and Martin McKenna.

Clogherhead RNLI Coxswain Tomas Whelehan­ said: “Without our assistance this fisherman would have been unable to return to port, so he made the right call to ask for assistance at 2.20am when his engine failed. Thanks to only 5 knots of wind and calm sea conditions it was a straightforward rescue to get this fisherman back to Port Oriel.

“We would encourage anyone with a job such as fishing at sea, to ensure their vessel is regularly checked and maintained and that you can stay afloat in an emergency with a lifejacket, can secure your position with a suitable anchor and that you can stay in touch with a radio or phone. If you do get into difficulty call the Coast Guard on VHF channel 16 or by phone on 999 or 112.”